The FDA issued an alert in February 2018 about potential pentobarbital contamination in canned dog food that’s manufactured by The J.M. Smucker Company. The brands affected are some types of Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘N Bits, Ol’ Roy, and Skippy products.
On March 2, 2018, J.M. Smucker was told that the firm’s actions to remove products is now considered a recall. A test by the firm confirmed the presence of pentobarbital in the tallow ingredient used in the Smucker dog food.
The FDA is continuing to investigate this issue. It has collected product samples for testing that is pending. The FDA agreed to a recall because it was the quickest way to remove the products. The FDA will share more information as it becomes available.
Pentobarbital is a barbiturate drug that is used in animals as a sedative and anesthetic. It is also used for euthanasia. There is a low level in the withdrawn products that is “unlikely to pose a health risk to pets.” But any detection of the drug in pet food is a violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Pets that eat food containing pentobarbital can experience drowsiness, dizziness, excitement, loss of balance, nausea, nystagmus (eyes moving back and forth in a jerky manner), and the inability to stand. High levels of this drug can cause coma and death.
You can see the long list of Smucker dog food products that are now recalled at the FDA web site. They were distributed to retailers nationwide. Other products may be recalled; the FDA has requested clarification from J.M. Smucker, which told the government that the list provided covers all of the withdrawn products. All of these products that were manufactured from 2016 through the present are recalled.
If your pet ate one of these items and has been experiencing health issues, call your veterinarian. You can report complaints through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling your local FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator.
